Posted by sted
on November 6, 2009, 11:27 am
QUOTE
Everton don't normally have any reason to be grateful to Liverpool, but they should feel thankful that their rivals are struggling so much that their own problems are largely going unnoticed.
What's happened to the team that finished fifth in the Barclays Premier League in the past two seasons, the side that was probably the toughest to play against because of their hard work, spirit, organisation and enthusiasm for getting stuck in and doing the ugly stuff? The side that was flying last year even without any forwards, and reached the FA Cup Final?
They lost tamely to Benfica in the Europa League last night - the same opponents who thumped them 5-0 in Portugal a couple of weeks ago. Then there was that 6-1 humiliation at the hands of Arsenal on the opening day of the season. It's so unlike David Moyes's side to be such whipping boys. They haven't won since October 10.
Yes, there have been injury problems. Mikel Arteta being sidelines is a massive blow. The bench was full of teenagers last night. But that doesn't excuse so many indifferent or poor performances and results. What's happened to Jo, for example?
The squad's inability to cope with absences is a sign that it's not big enough or good enough. And is that acceptable for a club that have earnt big money from selling Joleon Lescott and that, in most years, seem to profit from their transfers?
Moyes is careful and won't bring in players for the sake of it but for a club of their size, Everton aren't financially competitive at all. They don't pay big wages by the standards of leading Premier League clubs and the situation doesn't seem likely to change soon. Bill Kenwright, the chairman, appears keen to sell the club but it doesn't look like there's any serious interest. And the dream of a new stadium is not close to reality.
Basically, Everton are a club treading water, but sooner rather than later they're going to start to sink. I don't see any progress, only the probability of decline. Because while Everton stay much the same, their rivals are improving. What's the club's best-case scenario without going on a massive spending spree?
Finishing fifth every year. But Aston Villa, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are richer, more talented, more ambitious and growing. Everton are falling behind those three. So they're looking at slipping to eighth place.
Then factor in the new money and momentum at Sunderland and even perhaps Birmingham City, and Everton could be overtaken by those two as well in the coming years. Everton are on a path to mid-table obscurity unless something drastic happens. That means they will struggle to attract leading players and have to sell the quality ones they do have. And they'll fall farther behind.
Moyes, the manager, has overachieved and done brilliantly but his reputation will decline if Everton have a mediocre few years. He has been linked with bigger things but will lose any opportunity to become the manager of a top four club if he doesn't leave Goodison Park soon. Because he's not going to realise that ambition with Everton.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/200...-get-worse.html
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